1912,2006 Washington Street Bridge over Erie Canal in Adams Basin, NY

(Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; HAER; Satellite)

Erie Canal overview

"The Washington Street Lift Bridge (also known as the Adams Basin Lift Bridge) was rehabilitated during 2006-2007. It had to be parked and shored in the up position during its time of inoperability and renovation so as not to impede boat traffic on the Erie Canal. It was finally able to be lowered and reopened to vehicular traffic in December 2006, and cosmetic work continued into the summer of 2007. The bridge is not manned full time, and is not presently capable of remote operation. Boat traffic needing it to lift must call the nearby Union Street Lift Bridge operator in Spencerport via marine VHF or cellular phone, and they then drive to this bridge to open it." Daily Traffic: 2,629 [BridgeHunter]

Street View

Anonymous Photo via BridgeHunter

When I read that this was a lift bridge, I was shocked because it doesn't have any towers. Fortunately, Historic Bridges explains how these bridges worked.

The vertical lift bridges are an unusual design. Instead of towers that rise above the bridge in a traditional vertical lift bridge and pull the truss span up using cables, these bridges have vertical endposts which extend below the deck and into the ground. When operated, these extended endposts (called the lifting frame) rise out of the ground. In an engineering sense, these unusual vertical lift bridges might be thought of as bedstead truss bridges. Another unique feature of these lift bridges are the stairways found at each end of the bridge on the sidewalks. These stairways allow pedestrians to continue to cross the bridge when the structure is in the raised position. These vertical lift bridges continue to operate for boats today, so observing these unique bridges remains possible.

[HistoricBridges]

Douglas Butler diagram via BridgeHunter

This angle shows how the sidewalk on the side of the bridge will line up with the platform at the top of the stairs when the bridge is open.

Street View

And a view of the pedestrian access to the open bridge on the other side.

Street View